Material transport

ABSTRACT

A material transport vehicle is provided with a material stuffing mechanism for transferring material from a loading bin mounted ahead of a relatively large material receiving body carried on the rear end of the vehicle chassis. A pusher mechanism is reciprocably mounted within the body and includes a pair of pusher members pivotal to a first position providing an opening between such members to admit material from the loading bin into the body and to a second position to form a substantially continuous wall for compacting material within the body and subsequently ejecting it therefrom.

o Muted Mates Patent 1191 1111 3,872,984 Moser et al, 1 Mar. 25, 1975 1MATERIAL TRANSPORT 3,490,631 1/1970 Smith 214/503 3,584,755 6/1971 Smith214/833 [751 lnventoFsl Raymmd MOS", 5m 3,653,271 4/1972 Worthington214/82 ux Robert Stedma", Chtlllcothe, 3,661,281 5/1972 Herpich et a1.214/833 both of 3,672,520 6/1972 Linville 214/82 [73] AssigneezCaterpillar Tractor Peoria, In. 3,730,367 5/1973 Heffington... 214/518[22] Filed: Feb. 19, 1974 Primary ExaminerLeo Friaglia [211 App}. N02443,391 Attorney, Agent, or Firm -Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Related U.S.'Applicati0n Data [57] ABSTRACT [62]I13Iivis3io8nl5of76S5er. No. 354,450, April 25, 1973, A materialtransport vehicle is provided with a material stuffing mechanism fortransferring material from V a loading bin mounted ahead of a relativelylarge ma- 214/833 2 l i terial receiving body carried on the rear end ofthe ve- [S8] Fie'ld g 510 hicle 'chassis. A pusher mechanism isreciprocably mounted within the body and includes a pair of pushermembers pivotal to a first position providing an open- [56] ReferencesCited ing between such members to admit material from the UNITED STATESPATENTS I loading bin into the body and to a second position to2,961,105 11/1960 Shubin 214/833 form a substantially continuous wallfor compacting 312111309 10/1965 .214/83'3 material within the body andsubsequently ejecting it 3,232,463 2 1966 Weir 214/510 therefrom3,325,024 6/1967 Shubin .1 214/302 3.351,222 11/1967 Morrison 214/302 18Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 69 28 1 J." 1 A 6 1 1 l 1 W11 BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION Front loading refuse trucks have attained wide acceptancefor the collection of residential-type refuse because of the closeproximity of the refuse loading opening to the operator cab. Thisenables the vehicle to be efficiently loaded and operated by a one-mancrew. Such front loading refuse vehicles have not been adapted toutilizing the mechanical ejector commonly found on rear loading refusetrucks because of the difficulties encountered with attempting to placesuch an ejector at the front end of the body without interfering withthe front loading opening into the body. Consequently, refuse is gravitydischarged from most front loading vehicles by tilting the body upwardlyand rearwardly. Because of the adhesiveness of the refuse thisdischarging method normally leaves a substantial amount of residueinside the body which reduces capacity during subsequent use and whichultimately must be manually removed for obvious reasons. Furthermore, aseparate compactor mechanism is usually employed to increase the densityof the refuse in the load carrying body for optimum loading capacity.However, the attempts made to compress refuse into the bodies of variousfront loading vehicles have not been completely satisfactory due to therelatively inefficient loading and compacting devices employed by theprior art which have only been operative through a limited range orportion of the total load'carrying space within the body.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this inventionto provide a material transport having an improved pusher mechanismdisposed within a material receiving body which permits material to beloaded into one end of the body and to be discharged from the other.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an improved pushermechanism which insures effective distribution and compaction ofmaterial uniformly throughout the entire expanse of the body.

Another object ofthis invention is to provide such an improved pushermechanism which provides positive mechanical discharge ofmaterial toinsure its complete removal from the body.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become morereadily apparent upon reference to the accompanying drawings andfollowing descriptlon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of amaterial transport having a pusher mechanism embodying the principles ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the pusher mechanism disposed ina material receiving position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but illustratingthe pusher mechanism in an intermediate material loading position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view similar to the preceding FIG., butillustrating the pusher mechanism in a material packing-ejectingposition.

FIG. 5 is a rear sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG.

2, but illustrating an alternate embodiment of the pusher mechanism ofthe present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring more particularly tothe drawings, a material transport having an improved pusher mechanismembodying the principles of the present invention is generally indicatedat 10 in association with a material handling vehicle 11. The materialhandling vehicle 11 includes a chassis 12 having an elongated main frame14 disposed along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and supported byfront and rear wheels 16 and 17, respectively. As best shown in FIG. 2,the main frame 14 includes a relatively broad open-topped materialloading box 18 interposed the front and rear wheels 16 and 17. Theloading box 18 is formed by a horizontal floor 19 disposed across thebottom of the frame and vertical sidewalls 20 positioned parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the vehicle at opposite sides of the floor. Arearwardly and upwardly inclined wall 22 is disposed across the rearwardend of the loading box and a perforate front wall 23 is disposed acrossthe forward end thereof. A pair of horizontally disposed channel members25 are individually mounted to the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 20 ofthe loading box.

An operators cab 27 is carried-on the forward end of the main frame 14and has a rear wall 28 disposed adjacent to the front wall 23 of theloading box 18. The cab 27 has a recess 29 formed therein openingthrough the rear wall 28.

As shown in FIG. 1, the material handling vehicle 11 further includes anelongated material receiving body.

30 which is carried on top of the rearward end of the main frame 14. Thebody 30 has a forwardly disposed material loading end 31 and 'arearwardly disposed ma terial'ejection end 32; As best shown in FIG. 2,the material loading end is spaced behind the rear wall 28 of the caband is disposed in partially covering relation over the loading box 18intermediate the front and rear walls 23 and 22 thereof, respectively.The loading box is thereby divided into a forward portion defining aloading bin 34 disposed ahead of the material loading end 31 and arearward portion defining a material directing channel 35 underlying andextending rearwardly from the loading end of the body 30.

The material receiving body 30 is formed by a top wall 37, a bottom wall38, and parallel opposite sidewalls 39. The sidewalls are individuallyspaced outwardly from the sidewalls 20 of the loading box 18 and arerigidly connected to the respective opposite lateral edges of the topwall and bottom wall of the body. The bottom wall has-an opening41formed therein which is coincident with thematerial directing channel 35of the loading box 18 to provide communication between the loading bin34 and the body 30.

A pair of horizontally disposed guide rails 42 are individually mountedto the inside surface of each of the sidewalls 39 and extended alongtheir full lengths for purposes subsequently to be described.

The material ejection end 32 of the body 30 is normally closed by atailgate 44 as shown in FIG. 1. The

tailgate is pivotally attached along its upper edge to the rear end ofthe top wall 37 of the body by a hinge 45. The tailgate is controlledfor movement between open 3 and closed positions by selective actuationof a hydraulic jack 46. I

As best shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, a material stuffing mechanism 50 isreciprocably mounted for longitudinal movement within the loading bin 34and includes an arcuately shaped stuffer blade 51 having a heightsubstantially equal to the height of the sidewalls 20 in the loadingbin. A pair of rollers 52 are attached by a bracket 53 to each of theopposite sides of the stuffer blade and are rollably mounted in thechannel members 25 which extend substantially the length of the loadingbin and a relatively short distance through the perforate front wall 23to guide the stuffer blade during its reciprocative movement. A pair ofhydraulic jacks, one of which is shown at 54, each have a cylinder endconnected to the frame 14 and a rod end pivotally connected to thestuffer blade 51. Extension and retraction of the jacks effectslongitudinal movement of the stuffer blade through the loading bin 34.

An extensible and retractable cover device 56 includes a pair of coverplates 58 and 59. Cover plate 58 has one end rigidly connected to theupper edge of the stuffer blade 51. A lost motion mechanism 60 isutilized to couple the cover plates 58 and 59 together to fully coverthe loading bin 34 when the stuffing mechanism is extended and toprovide compact storage of the cover device when the stuffing mechanismis retracted. Such lost mechanism includes an upwardly extending lip 62formed on the other end of the plate 58 whichis slidably mounted withina groove 63 formed in the under surface of the plate 59. -Whenretracted, the cover device 56 is stored out of the way in the recess 29provided in the cab 27.

The pusher mechanism includes-a traveling carrier frame 65 having a pairof laterally disposed side plates 66. The side plates are individuallypositioned in spaced parallel relationship to the opposite sidewalls 39of the material receiving body 30 and form a pair of relatively narrowcavities 68 respectively therebetween. The side plates 66 are disposedin substantially parallel alignment with the opposite sidewalls of theloading box 18 for a purpose to be subsequently described. Each sideplate is generally triangularly shaped and includes a forward end 69having a substantially vertical edge 70, and a rearwardly disposed lowercorner 71 having a generally inclined edge 72 extending upwardly andforwardly therefrom which forms an upper apex 73 with the vertical edge70.

A pair of outwardly extending end plates 74 are individually attached tothe inclined edges 72 of each of the side plates 66. The end plates 74have outward edges disposed in relatively closely material scrapingrelationship with the corresponding sidewall 39 of the materialreceiving body 30.

The side plates 66 of the carrier frame 65 are interconnected by atransverse support member 76 which is disposed between the apexes 73thereof for maintaining their spaced relationship and for additionalstrength and rigidity. Each of the side plates rotatably mounts a pairof longitudinally spaced rollers 78 which are disposed within theirrespective cavities 68 in rolling engagement within the guide rails 42during reciprocative movement of the carrier frame 65 between theloading end 31 and the ejection end 32 of the body 30.

The pusher mechanism 10 further includes a normally upright pusher blade80 disposed transversely between the side plates 66 of the carrier frame65 adjacent to their front edges 70. The pusher blade includes oppositeupper and lower ends 82 and 83, respectively,-

and a rearward wall 84. The rearward wall is formed having an upperplanar surface 86 and a lower contoured surface 87.

The upper end 82 is pivotally mounted at a pivot con nection 89 to thecarrier frame 65 adjacent the apexes 73 of the side plates 66 forproviding pivotal movement of the pusher blade from a normally uprightmaterial receiving position forming the front wall of the body 30, asshown in FIG. 2, to an inclined material compacting-ejecting positionwhich is substantially parallel with the inclined edges 72 of thecarrier side plates 66, as shown in FIG. 4.

When the pusher blade 80 is disposed in the material receiving positionshown in FIG. 2, the lower end 83, in conjunction with the floor 19 andsidewalls 20 of the loading box 18, combine to form a .rectangularlyshaped opening 90 at the rear of the loading bin 34.

A material loading ramp 92 is laterally disposed between the side plates66 of the carrier frame 65 and is normally extended downwardly into thematerial directing channel 35 to provide an inclined surface 94 leadingfrom the open rear end of the loading bin 34 and into the body 30 forloading purposes. The ramp 92 includes a pivot end 95 disposed adjacentthe lower rearward corner 71 of the carrier side plates 66 and aforwardly extending free end 96.

The pusher mechanism 10 is manipulated by a power actuating device 98which includes a pair of telescoping multi-stage hydraulic jacks 99. Thejacks are individually longitudinally disposed along the base of each ofthe carrier cavities 68. Each jack 99 has its cylinder end pivotallymounted to the material receiving body 30 by a bracket 100 and its rodend pivotally connected to one end ofa pair of levers 102, as best shownin FIG. 5 A pair of shafts 103-each have one end individuallynonrotatably attached to the other ends of the levers 102. The shafts103 are rotatably extended through their associated carrier side plates66 adjacent the lower corners 71 thereof and have their opposite endsnonrotatably connected to the pivot end 95 of the ramp 92. The shafts103 also-function as a pivot connection for pivotally connecting thepivot end of the ramp to the carrier frame 65.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 through 5, a pair of links 105 are individuallydisposed between the carrier side plates 66 and opposite lateral sidesof the pusher blade 80 and the ramp 92. A first pivot connection 106pivotally connects one end of the links to the ramp 92 intermediate itspivot end 95 and its free end 96. A second pivot connection 107pivotally connects the other end of the link to the pusher blade 80adjacent its lower end 83.

SECOND FORM An alternate embodiment of the present invention isillustrated in FIG. 6, wherein components identical to those employed inthe first form are designated by corresponding reference numerals. Inthis embodiment, an alternate pusher mechanism 110 has a carrier frame111 which includes a pair of laterally spaced upstanding sidewalls 112having a rearwardly disposed lower corner 113. The sidewalls have aparallel spacing equidistant to the width of the material loading box 18for permitting upward pivotal movement of a loading ramp 115 between thesidewalls. The ramp includes a free end 116 and a pivot end 117. Thepivot end 117 is connected to the sidewalls adjacent to the lowercorners 113 thereof and the power actuating device 98 in the same manneras described with respect to the first form. A pusher blade 118 isformed integrally with the sidewalls and includes a rearward wall 119having a rearwardly disposed peak 120 disposed intermediate upper andlower ends 121 and 122, respectively, of the pusher blade. The rearwardwall 119 also has a forwardly sloping surface 124 extending upwardlyfrom the peak 120 and an arcuately shaped surface 125 extendingforwardly and downwardly therefrom.

OPERATION While the operation of the present invention is believed to beclearly apparent from the foregoing description, further amplificationwill subsequently be made in the following brief summary ofsuchoperation. In operation, material is deposited into the loading bin 34when the pusher mechanism and the material stuffing mechanism 50 aredisposed in their normal material receiving positions, as best shown inFIG. 2. After the material is loaded, it is transferred from the loadingbin 34 by the material stuffing mechanism 50 through the selectiveactuation of the hydraulic jacks 54. Such actuation causes longitudinalmovement of the stuffer blade 51 through the loading bin from itsforward position shown in FIG. 2 to its rearward position shown in FIG.3. During such movement, the stuffer blade causes the material to beforced through the rectangular opening 90 at the rear end ofthe loadingbin, up the loading ramp 92 and into the material receiving body 30.

As repetitive cycles of the material stuffing mechanism 50 begin fillingthe body with material, the subse quent material being forced into thebody by the stuffer blade 51 results in some preliminary compaction ofthe material in the body. During the cycling of the stuffer blade thecover device 56 prevents material from spilling over onto the jack sideof the stuffer blade which permits continuous loading as any depositedmaterial is automatically scraped off the cover device into the loadingbin by engagement with the rear wall 28 of the operators cab 27 uponretraction of the cover device into the recess 29.

The pusher mechanism 10 is periodically employed during the aboveloading operation to obtain greater compaction of the material and tomore evenly distribute it throughout the body 30. The utilization of thepusher mechanism 10 also aids in preventing the possi ble buildup oflocalized concentrations of material in the body, such as along thebottom wall 38 thereof. The pusher mechanism is utilized by theselective actuation of the telescoping hydraulic jacks 99. Actingthrough the levers 102 and shafts 103, the initial extension of thejacks 99 causes counterclockwise pivotal rotation of the ramp 92 throughan arcuate path from a lower position shown in FIG. 2, through anintermediate posi tion shown in FIG. 3, to a raised position shown inFIG. 4.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the arcuately shaped stuffer blade 51 is formedcoincident to the arcuate pathfollowed by the free end 96 of the rampbetween the lower and intermediate positions so that substantially allof the material transported into the material directing channel by thestuffer blade is transferred into the material receiving body 30 by theupward pivotal movement of the ramp.

In the lower position wherein the free end .96 of the ramp is disposedalong the floor 19 of the loading box 18 as shown in FIG. 2, the secondpivot connections 107 of the links 105 are disposed forwardly of andelevationally higher than the first pivot connections 106. Therefore,when the ramp pivots upwardly to its intermediate position, the lowerend 83 of the pusher blade is induced by the links to pivot forwardly topermit sufficient operating clearance between it and the free end of theramp. Upon reaching the intermediate position wherein the free end ofthe ramp is disposed along the contoured lower surface 87 adjacent tothe lower end 83 of the pusher blade as shown in FIG. 3, the secondpivot connections 107 are forwardly of and substantially level with thefirst pivot connections 106. Consequently, as the ramp continuesupwardly toward its raised position, the links cross. over center tocause the lower end of the pusher blade to reverse its forward pivotalmovement and to swing rearwardly in relatively close followingrelationship with the ramp. In the raised position wherein the free end96 is disposed along the rearward wall 84 intermediate the: upper planarsurface 86 and the contoured lower surface 87 as shown in FIG. 4, thesecond pivot connections 107 are disposed rearwardly of andelevationally lower than the first pivot connections 106. Such acondition permits the disposition of the upper planar surface 86 insubstantially linear alignment with the inclined surface 94 of the rampto form'a continuous wall having a relatively steep inclined rearwardsurface extending downwardly and rearwardly from the carrier side plateapexes 73 to the pivot end 95 of the ramp.

Between the intermediate and raised positions of the ramp the links andthe contoured surface 87 coact to maintain the free end 96 of the rampin relatively close material scraping. relationship to the rearward wall84 of the pusher blade to minimize and tendency for accumulation ofmaterial on the pusher blade.

As the ramp 92 is raised through the initial extension of thetelescoping jacks 99, the material contained thereon is propelledupwards to aid in the distribution of the material in the upper portionof the body 30. Continued extension of the jacks causes rearwardmovement of the pusher mechanism 10 along the guide rails 42 from thefront loading end 31 toward the rear ejection end 32. With the tailgate44 closed, such rearward travel of the pusher mechanism 10 results infurther compaction of the material in the body 30, and the inclinedsurface of the. continuous wall functions as a wedge to further aid inpropelling the material upwardly to obtain a uniform distribution of thematerial throughout the body.

Upon the completion of the extension of the telescoping jacks 99, thejacks are retracted to return the pusher mechanism 10 to the frontloading end 31 of the material receiving body 30 and toits formermaterial receiving position as shown in FIG. 2. Additional material maythen be loaded into the body 30 by subsequent cycles of the materialstuffing mechanism 50 in the manner previously described.

After completing the loading of the material receiving body 30, the bodyis unloaded by raising the tailgate 44 through the actuation of thejacks 46 and by cycling the pusher mechanism 10 in the above describedmanner. Such action causes the complete discharge of the material fromthe ejection end 32 of the body 30 without leaving any appreciableresidue remaining therein,

particularly due to the sloping rearward surface of the continuous wallfrom which material is permitted freely to gravitate. Repositioning ofthe pusher mechanism 10 at the loading end 31 of the body and closing ofthe tailgate 44 reconditions the vehicle for the further collection ofmaterial.

OPERATION OF SECOND FORM The structure of the alternate pusher mechanism110 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, operates inessentially the same manner as the structure heretofore describedwherein the ramp 115 is pivotal in an arcuate path between a lowerposition. forming an opening through the pusher mechanism 110 foradmitting material into the material receiving body and a raisedposition forming a substantially continuous wall transversely across thebody. As in the first form, the free end 116 of the ramp is disposedalong the floor 19 of the material loading box 18 in the lower positionas shown in FIG. 6. In the raised position, the free end is disposedalong the peak 120 so that the continuous wall has a rearward surfacesloping upwardly and forwardly from the pivot end 117 of the ramp to theupper end. 121 of the pusher blade. The arcuately shaped surface 125 isformed coincident tothe arcuate path of the ramp so that the free end116 thereof is continually disposed in relatively closely spacedmaterial scraping relationship to such surface throughout the entirerange of pivotal movement ofthe ramp along the surface. Be-' cause thepusher blade 118 is formed integrally with the carrier frame 111, thearcuately shaped surface 125 is substituted for the pivotal movement ofthe previ-' ously described pusher blade 80. However, the links 105 areeliminated which were formerly-required to co ordinate such pivotalmovement of the pusher blade 80 with pivotal movement of the ramp 92.

In view of the foregoing, it is readily apparent that the structure ofthe present invention facilitates the operation and rapid loading ofmaterial with a one-man crew by locating the loading bin of the materialreceiving body immediately behind the operator cab. Thus, the necessityand expense of having additional crew members to do such loading isthereby eliminated. In addition, because the loading bin is integrallyformed into the main frame of the vehicle, the top of the bin is muchcloser to the ground than that of bins customarily placed on top of theframe. Consequently, the time and energy required to load material intothe bin is also greatly reduced. It is further apparent that the loadcarrying efficiency of the vehicle is greatly increased by the structureof the pusher mechanism which causes the material to be forced upwardlyby the action of the ramp relative to the pusher blade and the movementof the inclined continuous wall formed by the coacting pusher blade andramp to distribute the material uniformly throughout the entire volumeof the body in a maximum compacted condition. The pusher mechanism alsofunctions as an ejector for attaining complete and positive discharge ofmaterial from the rear of the body when the tailgate is raised.

It is therefore readily apparent that the ramp and pusher blade coact ina unique manner to load, compact and discharge material handled by thetransport vehicle of the present invention unlike any vehicle heretoforedevised for the purpose.

While the invention has been described and shown with particularreference to the preferred embodiments, it will be apparent thatvariations might be possible that would fall within the scope of thepresent invention which is not intended to be limited except as definedin the following claims.

What is claimed is: l. A material transport vehicle having alongitudinal axis and comprising;

a vehicle chassishaving an elongated frame disposed along saidlongitudinal axis; 7 an elongated material receiving body carried onsaid frame and having a loading end and an ejection end; v a loading binhaving an open end disposed forwardly adjacent to said loading end ofthe body;

powered material stuffing means movable through said loading bin fortransferring material therefrom through said open end;

pusher means disposed transversely of and reciprocably mounted withinsaid material receiving body and having a pair of members which arerelatively movable with respect to each other when disposed adjacentsaid loading end of the material receiving.

body between a first position providing an opening therebetweencommunicating with said open end of the loading bin for receivingmaterial therethrough and into said body and asecond position forming asubstantially continuous wall; and

power actuating means operatively associated with said pusher means forselectively moving said members between said first and second positionsand for selectively reciprocating said pusher means between said loadingand ejection ends of said material receiving body.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said frame includes, V

an open-topped material loading box integrally formed therein and havingforward and rearward ends, a floor, and substantially vertical sidewallspositioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle at oppositesides of said floor, said loading end ofthe body being disposed inpartially covering relation to said loading box intermediate the forwardand rearward ends thereof, said loading box being divided into a forwardportion defining said loading bin and a rearward portion defining amaterial directing channel disposed beneath the loading end of saidmaterial receiving body.

3. The vehicle ofclaim 2 wherein one of said pair of members of saidpusher means is a generally upright pusher blade having opposite upperand lower ends and a rearward wall, and the other of said pair ofmembers is a ramp having a pivot end and'an opposite free end.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein said material receiving body includesa pair of opposite, parallel sidewalls and a bottom wall having anopening formed therein coinciding with said material directing channel,said pusher means includes a carrier frame having a pair ofinterconnected laterally spaced upstanding side plates individuallydisposed adjacent to said opposite sidewalls of the body and each havinga forward end, a lower rearward corner, and a pivot connection mountedadjacent said lower rearward corner whereby said pusher blade is adaptedto be supported by said carrier frame in interconnecting relationtherebetween adjacent the forward ends of said side plates, and saidpivot connections pivotally mounting the pivot end of said ramp to saidside plates of the carrier frame.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the lateral spacing of said sidewallsof the loading box are substantially equidistant to the lateral spacingof said side plates of the carrier frame whereby said ramp is permittedto move in an arcuate path between a lower position in which the freeend of said ramp is disposed adjacent the floor of the loading box and araised position in which said free end is disposed adjacent saidrearward wall of the pusher blade.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein said power actuating means includes;

a pair oflevers individually rotatably mounted to said side plates ofthe carrier frame and having opposite ends with one end thereofnonrotatably mounted to said pivot end of the ramp; and pair ofhydraulic jacks individually longitudinally disposed adjacent to saidside plates of the carrier frame and having one end pivotally connectedto the other end of said levers and the other end of said jacksconnected to said body whereby initial extension of said hydraulic jackscauses the pivotal movement of said ramp from said lower position tosaid raised position and further extension of said jacks causes movementof said pusher means toward the ejection end of said body.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein said pusher means includes;

a pair of laterally spaced horizontal guide means longitudinallyextendedwithin and attached to said material receiving body; and

a pair of roller means attached to each of said side plates of saidcarrier frame and individually rollably engaging said guide meanswhereby said carrier frame is mounted for longitudinal movement betweensaid loading and ejection ends of said body.

8. The'vehicle of claim 7 wherein said side plates of the carrier frameare generally triangularly shaped and are disposed in substantiallyparallel spaced relationship to their respectively associated sidewallsof said body and have substantially vertically disposed front edges attheir forward ends and generally inclined rearward edges slopingupwardly and forwardly from their lower rearward corners to form an apexwith their respective front edges; and

outwardly extending end plates connected to said inclined rearward edgesand having outwardly disposed edges disposed in closely spaced materialscraping relationship to their respectively adjacent sidewalls of saidbody. 9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein said pusher means includes;

pivot means pivotally connecting the upper end of said pusher blade tothe carrier frame adjacent to the apexes of the carrier side plates; andcontrol means including a link having a first pivot connection pivotallyconnecting one end thereof to the ramp intermediate its pivot and freeends, and a second pivot connection pivotally connecting the other endof the link to the pusher blade adjacent to its lower end for couplingthe pusher blade to the ramp whereby initial upward pivotal movement ofsaid ramp from said lower position positions said pusher blade so as toallow the free end of the ramp to move into material scrapingrelationship with the rearward wall of said pusher blade adjacent itslower end and thereafter continued pivotal movement of said ramp towardsaid raised position is 0perative through said link to maintain saidmaterial scraping relationship of the free end of the ramp with saidrearward wall.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein said second pivot connection isdisposed forwardly of and elevationally higher than said first pivotconnection when the ramp is in its lower position forwardly of andsubstantially level therewith when the free end of the ramp is raisedadjacent the lower end of the pusher blade and rearwardly of andelevationally lower than the first pivot connection when the ramp is inits raised position to induce forward pivotal movement of the pusherblade during initial upward pivotal movement of the ramp to permitclearance of the free end of the ramp with the lower end of the pusherblade and thereafter to induce rearward pivotal movement of the pusherblade in relatively closely spaced following relationship with the rampduring continued upward pivotal movement of the ramp toward the raisedposition.

11. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein said control means includes acontoured lower surface formed on therearward wall-of said pusher bladeto cooperate with said link in maintaining said material scraping relationship of the free end of the ramp with the rearward wall and permitsubstantially linear alignment of the pusher blade with the ramp whendisposed in its raised position to minimize entrapment of materialtherebetween.

12. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein said pusher blade 7 is formedintegrally with said carrier frame and said rearward wall thereofincludes;

a rearwardly disposed peak formed thereon interme diate the upper andlower'ends of said pusher blade and having a relatively steep forwardlysloping surface extending upwardly therefrom and an arcuately shapedsurface extending downwardly and forwardly therefrom.

' 13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein said arcuately shaped surfacesubstantially coincides with the arcuate path of said ramp so that thefree end thereof is contin ually relatively closely disposed adjacent tosaid arcuately shaped surface throughout the entire pivotal movement ofthe free end along said surface.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein said continuous wall is formed whensaid ramp is disposed in said raised position with said free end of theramp is disposed adjacent to said peak, said continuous wall having arearward surface sloping forwardly and upwardly from the pivot end ofsaid ramp to the upper end of said pusher blade.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein said material receiving bodyincludes;

a tailgate pivotally connected to an upper edge of said ejection end ofthe body in normally closing relation; and

hydraulic means connected between said tailgate and said body forselectively raising said tailgate for permitting the ejection ofmaterial from said body during rearward movement of said pusher means.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein said material stuffing meansincludes;

extensible and retractable cover means for covering said loading binwhen said material stuffing means is disposed adjacent said open end ofsaid loading bin; and

an upright arcuately shaped stuffer blade disposable coincident to thearcuate path of the free end of said ramp between the floor of saidloading box and the lower end of said pusher blade so that said free endof the ramp is disposed in relatively closely spaced relation to saidstuffer blade throughout its movement along said arcuate path.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein said stuffer blade includes an upperedge;

said cover means includes a pair of cover plates, one

of said cover plates having one end rigidly connected to the upper edgeof said stuffer blade; and

lost motion means coupling the other end of said one cover plate to theother cover plate to provide ment of such material with said rear wallof the cab. l l

1. A material transport vehicle having a longitudinal axis andcomprising; a vehicle chassis having an elongated frame disposed alongsaid longitudinal axis; an elongated material receiving body carried onsaid frame and having a loading end and an ejection end; a loading binhaving an open end disposed forwardly adjacent to said loading end ofthe body; powered material stuffing means movable through said loadingbin for transferring material therefrom through said open end; pushermeans disposed transversely of and reciprocably mounted within saidmaterial receiving body and having a pair of members which arerelatively movable with respect to each other when disposed adjacentsaid loading end of the material receiving body between a first positionproviding an opening therebetween communicating with said open end ofthe loading bin for receiving material therethrough and into said bodyand a second position forming a substantially continuous wall; and poweractuating means operatively associated with said pusher means forselectively moving said members between said first and second positionsand for selectively reciprocating said pusher means between said loadingand ejection ends of said material receiving body.
 2. The vehicle ofclaim 1 wherein said frame includes; an open-topped material loading boxintegrally formed therein and having forward and rearward ends, a floor,and substantially vertical sidewalls positioned parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the vehicle at opposite sides of said floor, saidloading end of the body being disposed in partially covering relation tosaid loading box intermediate the forward and rearward ends thereof,said loading box being divided into a forward portion defining saidloading bin and a rearward portion defining a material directing channeldisposed beneath the loading end of said material receiving body.
 3. Thevehicle of claim 2 wherein one of said pair of members of said pushermeans is a generally upright pusher blade having opposite upper andlower ends and a rearward wall, and the other of said pair of members isa ramp having a pivot end and an opposite free end.
 4. The vehicle ofclaim 3 wherein said material receiving body includes a pair ofopposite, parallel sidewalls and a bottom wall having an opening formedtherein coinciding with said material directing channel, said pushermeans includes a carrier frame having a pair of interconnected laterallyspaced upstanding side plates individually disposed adjacent to saidopposite sidewalls of the body and each having a forward end, a lowerrearward corner, and a pivot connection mounted adjacent said lowerrearward corner whereby said pusher blade is adapted to be supported bysaid carrier frame in interconnecting relation therebetween adjacent theforward ends of said side plates, and said pivot connections pivotallymounting the pivot end of said ramp to said side plates of the carrierframe.
 5. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the lateral spacing of saidsidewalls of the loading box are substantially equidistant to thelateral spacing of said side plates of the carrier frame whereby saidramp is permitted to move in an arcuate path between a lower position inwhich the free end of said ramp is disposed adjacent the floor of theloading box and a raised position in which said free end is disposedadjacent said rearward wall of the pusher blade.
 6. The vehicle of claim5 wherein said power actuating means includes; a pair of leversindividually rotatably mounted to said side plates of the carrier frameand having opposite ends with one end thereof nonrotatably mounted tosaid pivot end of the ramp; and a pair of hydraulic jacks individuallylongitudinally disposed adjacent to said side plates of the carrierframe and having one end pivotally connected to the other end of saidlevers and the other end of said jacks connected to said body wherebyinitial extension of said hydraulic jacks causes the pivotal movement ofsaid ramp from said lower position to said raised position and furtherextension of said jacks causes movement of said pusher means toward theejection end of said body.
 7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein said pushermeans includes; a pair of laterally spaced horizontal guide meanslongitudinally extended within and attached to said material receivingbody; and a pair of roller means attached to each of said side plates ofsaid carrier frame and individually rollably engaging said guide meanswhereby said carrier frame is mounted for longitudinal movement betweensaid loading and ejection ends of said body.
 8. The vehicle of claim 7wherein said side plates of the carrier frame are generally triangularlyshaped and are disposed in substantially parallel spaced relationship totheir respectively associated sidewalls of said body and havesubstantially vertically disposed front edges at their forward ends andgenerally inclined rearward edges sloping upwardly and forwardly fromtheir lower rearward corners to form an apex with their respective frontedges; and outwardly extending end plates connected to said inclinedrearward edges and having outwardly disposed edges disposed in closelyspaced material scraping relationship to their respectively adjacentsidewalls of said body.
 9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein said pushermeans includes; pivot means pivotally connecting the upper end of saidpusher blade to the carrier frame adjacent to the apexes of the carrierside plates; and control means including a link having a first pivotconnection pivotally connecting one end thereof to the ramp intermediateits pivot and free ends, and a second pivot connection pivotallyconnecting the other end of the link to the pusher blade adjacent to itslower end for coupling the pusher blade to the ramp whereby initialupward pivotal movement of said ramp from said lower position positionssaid pusher blade so as to allow the free end of the ramp to move intomaterial scraping relationship with the rearward wall of said pusherblade adjacent its lower end and thereafter continued pivotal movementof said ramp toward said raised position is operative through said linkto maintain said material scraping relationship of the free end of theramp with said rearward wall.
 10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein saidsecond pivot connection is disposed forwardly of and elevationallyhigher than said first pivot connection when the ramp is in its lowerposition forwardly of and substantially level therewith when the freeend of the ramp is raised adjacent the lower end of the pusher blade andrearwardly of and elevaTionally lower than the first pivot connectionwhen the ramp is in its raised position to induce forward pivotalmovement of the pusher blade during initial upward pivotal movement ofthe ramp to permit clearance of the free end of the ramp with the lowerend of the pusher blade and thereafter to induce rearward pivotalmovement of the pusher blade in relatively closely spaced followingrelationship with the ramp during continued upward pivotal movement ofthe ramp toward the raised position.
 11. The vehicle of claim 9 whereinsaid control means includes a contoured lower surface formed on therearward wall of said pusher blade to cooperate with said link inmaintaining said material scraping relationship of the free end of theramp with the rearward wall and permit substantially linear alignment ofthe pusher blade with the ramp when disposed in its raised position tominimize entrapment of material therebetween.
 12. The vehicle of claim 7wherein said pusher blade is formed integrally with said carrier frameand said rearward wall thereof includes; a rearwardly disposed peakformed thereon intermediate the upper and lower ends of said pusherblade and having a relatively steep forwardly sloping surface extendingupwardly therefrom and an arcuately shaped surface extending downwardlyand forwardly therefrom.
 13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein saidarcuately shaped surface substantially coincides with the arcuate pathof said ramp so that the free end thereof is continually relativelyclosely disposed adjacent to said arcuately shaped surface throughoutthe entire pivotal movement of the free end along said surface.
 14. Thevehicle of claim 13 wherein said continuous wall is formed when saidramp is disposed in said raised position with said free end of the rampis disposed adjacent to said peak, said continuous wall having arearward surface sloping forwardly and upwardly from the pivot end ofsaid ramp to the upper end of said pusher blade.
 15. The vehicle ofclaim 14 wherein said material receiving body includes; a tailgatepivotally connected to an upper edge of said ejection end of the body innormally closing relation; and hydraulic means connected between saidtailgate and said body for selectively raising said tailgate forpermitting the ejection of material from said body during rearwardmovement of said pusher means.
 16. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein saidmaterial stuffing means includes; extensible and retractable cover meansfor covering said loading bin when said material stuffing means isdisposed adjacent said open end of said loading bin; and an uprightarcuately shaped stuffer blade disposable coincident to the arcuate pathof the free end of said ramp between the floor of said loading box andthe lower end of said pusher blade so that said free end of the ramp isdisposed in relatively closely spaced relation to said stuffer bladethroughout its movement along said arcuate path.
 17. The vehicle ofclaim 16 wherein said stuffer blade includes an upper edge; said covermeans includes a pair of cover plates, one of said cover plates havingone end rigidly connected to the upper edge of said stuffer blade; andlost motion means coupling the other end of said one cover plate to theother cover plate to provide overlapping compact storage of the covermeans in its retracted position.
 18. The vehicle of claim 17 includingan operator cab carried on the forward end of said frame, said cabhaving a rear wall disposed adjacent the forward end of the loading box,and a recess formed therein opening through said rear wall foraccommodating said cover means therein when disposed in its retractedposition so that material upon said cover means is automatically removedtherefrom into said loading bin upon engagement of such material withsaid rear wall of the cab.